Concrete-pipe machine



NSK .TN i TSM.

3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24l 1925 H. A. HALL CONCRETE PIPE MACHINE Filed Sept, 4; 1923 Nov. 24,1925.

H. HALL 'cormngzws PIPE MACHINE Filed sept. 4. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Nav. 24, 1925'. 1,562,551

' H.- A. HALL CONCRETE PIPE MACHINE Filed sei-np, 4, 1925 5 sheets-Sheet 5 atentcd Nov. 24, 1925..

PAT

HOWARD n. naar., or EUGENE, OREGON.

CONCRETE-PIPE MACHINE.

Application led September To all whom t may concern.:

Be it hereby known that I, HOWARD A.V HALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Eugene, county of Lane, and State OfOregon, have invented a new and useful Concrete-Pipe Machine, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates more particularly to machines for forming pipes of concrete by centrifugal action.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine which will produce concrete pipe centrifugally in an economical manner.

A second object is to so produce concrete pipe that a minimum amount of labor is expended in the process.

A third object is to reduce the amount of equipment required to enable a machine .to be operated at its full capacity.

A fourth object is the provision of av highly eiiicient means for the removal of the Water which has collected on the interiorA of the pipe without stopping the operation.

A fifth Object is the dispensing with the customary socalled Water rings usually removably placed in each end of the pipe mold.

A sixth object is the rendering possible the removal of the pi e from the mold without opening the mol v or removing same from the rotating mechanism.

A seventh object is the provision of an eX- ceedingly sim le joining means for joining the edges of t e sheet metal portion of the mold. g

An eighth object is the elimination of leakage from the mold during the forming process.

I accomplish these results in the manner set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichz# Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Figure 2 is a vertical `section 'taken along the line 2-.-2 in Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a plan of Fig. 1 including a few more mold carrying units. Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1. Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken Ialong the line 5-5 in Fig. .1. Figure 6 is an end elevationof a mold without water removing device. Figure 7 is a vertical section along the line 7-7 in Fig. 4. Figure 8 is an enlarged section through the mold uniting de- 4, 1923. srial No. 660,764.

vice along the line 8-8 in Fi 1. Figure 9 is a section through the mold uniting device along the line 5)-9 in Fig. 8. Figure 10 isf/an enlarged detail of the support for the water removing device. Figure 11 is a vertical section along the line 1.1-11 in Fig. 10. Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical see` tion along the line 7-7 in Fig. 4 somewhat similar to Fig.,7 showinur the trowelin device in use in the dottedy position. Figure 13 is a section taken along the line 13--13 in Fig. 12. Figure 14 is a transverse section through the machine passing through a mold and illustrating the use of what I choose to call a liner. Figure 15 is an end view of the liner. Figure 16 is a horizontal plan through a mold in which a liner is empioyed. Figure 17 is a vertical section along the line 17--17 in Fig. 16. Figure 18 is Ian elevation showing a completed pipe removed from the ,mold and placed on a platform ready for curing. Figure 19 isa vertical section along the line 19H19 in Fig. 18. Figure 20 is a partial plan of Figure 19 showing the clamps around the liner which insure a maintenance of they cylindrica l form of the pipe until set.

Similar numbers yof reference refer to the same parts throughout the sevefal views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I have constructed my device on' a frame which consists of two channelsv which are held in spaced relation by the channels 31 upon a pair of which is mounted a variable speed motor 32.

' Bearings 33vseoured on the upper faces of the members 30 carry the shafts 34, on each end of which are rigidly secured the wheels 35. The shaft 34 nearest the motor 32 is provided with a belt pulley 36 which'is rotated through the belt 37 by the motor 32.

The number of shafts 34 may be increasedV at will and the centers aremade adjustable when various sizes of pipes are made on one machine. This adjustment may be taken care of by providing suitable sets of holes in the member 3() to which the bearings 33 may be bolted.

Each mold or form consists of a pair of flanged rings 38 adapted to ride on the wheels and to form the rigid ends of the mold, which consists mainly of the relatively light sheet metal member 39.

It will be observed by comparing Figures e 41 out of the mold 39A.

pears to be two forms of my invention.

9 and 16 that l have illustrated what apn reality Fig. 9 shows the construction employed when it is desired to remove the pipe from the mold by actually opening the mold, .whereas Fig. 16 shows the same mold with the removable end. rings 40. and employing the liner 41 which obviates the necessity of opening the mold.

Referring first to the -i'orm illustrated in Figures 1 to 13, it will be observed that the flanged rings 33 are recessed to receive the mold wall 39 and are provided with an annular rib 42 which forms a recess in the end of the pipe for the purpose of making tight joints. A counter-bore 43 in each ring receives the ends of the U-shaped clamping bars 44 which iit snugly over the angle irons 45 secured along the edges of the halves of the mold part 39.

Tie rods 46 hold the end rings 38 against the sheet metal portion 39 and the rims 4T of the end rings 38 lock'the clamping bars 44 upon the angles 45. 1t will bei observed that the concrete 48 does not reach the inside openings 49 of the end rings 38 when the pipe is completed, although the wet mix is lled up to the openings 49 at the beginning of the operation.` The space between the end rings 38 next to the inside of the pipe is taken up by water forced out ot the mix by j centrifugal action.

Now in Figures 12 and Figures 14 to 2O 1 have shown the same apparatus, but have made the molds solid by welding the joints in the member 39A and `riveting the end rings 38A to the mold 39A. Removable rings 40 which include the rib 42 lit snugly into the end of the mold inside of Which is first placed the liner 41 Whose joint 41A is open. A. plunger 50 is provided for pushing the complete pipe with its surrounding liner The ring 40, of course, receives the force from the plunger 50. Split clamps 51 are provided which are placed around the liner 41 as it emerges from the mold or form and maintains its circular shape. As many of the clamps 51 as may be required by the length of the pipe may be employed and secured by driving home the pins 52. The clamp 51 is preferably made with 4a T cross section for additional strength and to protect the liner. A platform 53 is provided with a saddle 54 and is used to receive the completed pipe and to hold same until sufficiently set and cured. l

As above mentioned, an accumulation oi water forms on the inside surface of the ce ment pipe asit is formed by this process, and this water must be removed. To accomplish this purpose I have provided a square shaft 55 which is provided with a plurality of spiral-shaped arms 56 joined thereto by means of the bolts 57. To each of the arms 56 is secured a flexible sweeper strip 58 of belting or other suitable material, over which is placed a thin metal strip 5f). Between said strip 59 and arm 56 thc sweeper strip 58 is securely held by the screws 60. The sweeper strip 53 is adapted to engage' theinner wall ot the pipe and sweep all of the water out ot one end oi' same. l have also mounted on the shaft :i troweler 61 whose curved face 61A forms an arc of a smaller radius than thesmallest pipe to be formed on the machine. rl`he troweler extends the full length of the pipe to be formed and is used in some cases to insure a lperfectly smooth finish for the interior of the pipe. i

Removably placed on the shaft 55 outside of each end of the mold is a vertical chair. nel iron standard 62 provided with a slot at the upper end adapted to receive the shaft rlhe lower end of each member 62 is forked and the lower end ot each fork is slotted to slip over the bolts G4 projecting at suitable intervals from thc sides of the channels 30. A hook brace x is secured to the middle of each member 62 and hooks 'over the top of the channel 3 Across each Islot 63 in the channel 62 I have placed a rod 65 which is suspended near its end by a spring 66 hung from the inturne'd legs of the channel 62. The shaft 55 rests on the rods 65 so that the weight of the sweeping and troweling apparatus is actually carried by the four springs 66.

Since the operation of a split mold 'for centrifugal concrete pipe manufacture is well known in the art, it will not be explained here7 but attention is directed to the mold which is either split or solid in which liners are employed for the purpose of removing the pipe from the mold and holding its shape during handling and curing.

Handles 67 and 68 are provided for handling the sweeper mechanism.

The operation of my device is as follows: Empty molds or forms containing liners 41 are placed on the wheels 35 which have been spaced so that the center of the mold and the center of the wheels form approximately a right angle. It is evident that the molds act as idlers between the wheels, and if all the sections are iilled with molds then all thel Wheels 35 will be driven and the motor 32 rotates the iirst shaft thereby causing all oi' the molds to rotate.

A relatively rich and moist mix having a fairly ineaggregate is now shoveled into the molds until they are filled up to the openings in the end rings 40. Rotation ci' the molds is continued until the surplus water is forced to the center of the pipe being Jformed. At this point an operator passes the handle 67 through the spinning mold and a second operator inserts one end of the amasar square sweeper shaft 55 into the handle 67. Both operators vnow pass the sweeper through the rotating mold. The second operator, of course, uses the handle 68 to manage his end of the sweeper.

The square shaft 55 is now lowered into the slots 63 and rests upon the bars 65. Any downward pressure applied to the sweeper 58 causes it to ride on the fresh concrete and to sweep all of the water out of one end of the rotating pipe.

When this operation is completed the sweeper is lifted out of its guides and turned ninety degrees so that the troweler 61 is uppermost and pressure is again applied to the square shaft 55 which causes the troweler to smooth the interiorof the pipe as much is desired.

The sweeper is then removed from the mold and the member 62 placed in front of the next mol-d and the operation repeated. When all of the molds are swept and troweled, the motor is stopped and the pipes pushed out of the forms, as shown in Figure 14, during which time the operator securesv the clamps 57 Y around the liners to hold them in true form and places the new pipes with the liners around them in the saddles 54 and takes them to the steam curing room.

lt is preferableI to grease the liners 41'beperceptibly.

To remove a liner from the pipe after curing it is simply a matter of passing a long pole through the pipe and raising it from the floor by resting the ends of the pole on suitable horses. The clamps can then be removed and the liner slipped to one end of the pole and then off of the pole, Aafter which the pipe can be disposed of as seems fit.

I"When using the liner with a split outer mold it is desirable to have the joints of the former opposite the joint of the. latter. lf desired the clamps 51 may be provided with holes forv sling-handling, without departing from the spirit of my. invention.

' While the advantages of centrifugally forming concrete pipe are numerous, the principal drawbacks have been in the labor charge entailed in the construction and to the amount of equipment required to reach the full capacity of the plant. It is to remove. this objection that I have constructed my device in a manner to avoid using, in most cases, the split mold and the consequent tie-up of the mold in the curing rooms,

. and at the same time providing means for sweeping and troweling the interior ofthe ready for curing.

Since with the proper relation of mix and peripheral speed of the mold, the concrete will spread very evenly along the length of the mold with almost increditable speed, it is very evident that it is an easy matter to insert the mix into the mold, after which the spreading is practically instantaneous.

' The conditionls for an ideal concrete are too well known to be gone into here, but it should be repeated that the fewer the voids that are found in concrete the better. Centrifugally formed concrete pipe may be made practically devoid of voids. Pipe made by any other process known today has a goodly percentage of voids which render it measurably weaker and also increases the ease with which water may be passed through the concrete. Of course the speed of the motor depends upon the mix, the diameter of the pipe being formed and the cycle of the pipeforming operation.

l am aware that pipes have been constructed in the past centrifugally. l therem fore do not claim my device broadly, but do intend that it shall cover all such forms and modifications as fall fairly within the appended claims.

What l claim as new is:

1. ln a concrete pipe machine, the combination of a form, means for rotating said forn'nend rings removably placed in said form, and a sweeping device adapted' to sweep water out' of the pipe being formed consisting of a plurality of sweeps set spirally in said form in a manner nto allow said sweep to rest lightly on the inner surface of the pipe being formed.

2. ln a pipe-making machine, the combination of a rotatable form consisting of a cylindrical shell having secured at each end a ianged rim, wheels supporting and rotating said flanged rims, a sheet metal liner slidably placed within said form, a combined sweeping and troweling device removably placed within said form, and clamp means for securing said liner around a pipe in a manner to retain the original shape of said pipe.

3. The combination of a solid form hav ing means for rotating same horizontally, with a split liner slidably placed within said form, an end ring in .each end of said form abutting said liner, said ring having an inside diameter some-what smaller than the inside diameter of the linished pipe to be produced( in said form, and a sweeping device consisting of a plurality of stationary spiral sweeps adapted to be brought into engagement inside ofthe concrete pipe and brush lightly over its revolving surface in a manner to convey the accumulated water out of the end of the pipe.

4. The combination of a rotatable solid forni having means i901 rotating saine, with a removable split liner, said form having a. reduced inernal diameter at each end between which ends the pipe is formed, a

v combined sweeping' and roweling device Within Said oiin between said end rings, Said device coneising of a square bai', slotted standards adaped o siidably reeeive said bar, Said sandards having i,f'ielding stops in 10 iheil slots for Suppoiing said har, a fioweiing` means consisting of a curved Shoe Secured to said bar, and 'a sweep attached ilo Said bai' adapted to engage the inne' side of the pipe being formed when said shaft turns to one position and to bring said troWeling device into engagement with said pipe when the shaft is rotated ninety degrees and replaced in the slots.

HOWARD A. HALL. 

